Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson

Warbreaker

By Brandon Sanderson

  • Release Date: 2009-06-09
  • Genre: Epic Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 1,326 Ratings

Description

From the author of the connected universe of the Cosmere comes the standalone novel from which spring characters who later play roles in the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive.

In the world of Warbreaker, each person is born endowed with the power of one Breath―which can be sold and collected by others, then used to Awaken objects and even corpses to do their bidding. A few individuals who die in glory return as gods, with the power of thousands of Breath, but no memory of their mortal lives―and are enthroned in the Court of Gods in Hallandren’s capital. To Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris, the abuse of Breath and the claim of the Returned to be gods are repugnant blasphemy. But with one princess wed to the God King of their nation’s enemies in a bid for peace, the other finds she must rely on Breath-using mercenaries to try to rescue her sister from her monstrous husband.

Lightsong the Bold, a lesser god who doubts his own religion, starts investigating mysterious murders in the Court of Gods and uncovers haunting clues to his own forgotten past. He is one of four gods who controls the army of Awakened Lifeless soldiers, and one faction is inciting an invasion of Idris despite the marriage treaty. Vasher―wielder of the sapient sword Nightblood―works behind the scenes against the declaration of war, but Lightsong’s visions of bloodshed prophesy its inevitability. Can the new queen, unaware of her sister’s imminent rescue attempt, persuade Lightsong and also somehow get through to the aloof God King―who she has been forbidden to speak to or even look in the eyes―before her homeland is destroyed?

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson

The Cosmere
The Stormlight Archive
The Way of Kings
Words of Radiance
Edgedancer (novella)
Oathbringer
Dawnshard (novella)
Rhythm of War

The Mistborn Saga
The Original Trilogy
Mistborn
The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages

Wax & Wayne
The Alloy of Law
Shadows of Self
The Bands of Mourning
The Lost Metal

Other Cosmere novels
Elantris
Warbreaker
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
The Sunlit Man

Collection
Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
The Scrivener's Bones
The Knights of Crystallia
The Shattered Lens
The Dark Talent
Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (with Janci Patterson)

Other novels
The Rithmatist
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds
The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

Other books by Brandon Sanderson

The Reckoners
Steelheart
Firefight
Calamity
Lux (with Steven Michael Bohls)

Skyward
Skyward
Starsight
Cytonic
Skyward Flight (with Janci Patterson)
Defiant

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Slow pleasant story

    5
    By AnaTheBold
    Sanderson thrives off of one thing when he writes his books: knowledge. When to give it and when to hold it until the right moment and when to give it all up at once. That’s been the hardest adjustment to someone who’s used to YA which constantly relays knowledge as the necessity comes. The story felt slow and unnecessary at first but details piled on and on until it became a hill to climb over and suddenly it was a rollercoaster that was exciting, fun, and full of new information! I loved the experience, and I can’t wait till I start the next book.
  • Brando Sando

    4
    By lordlestibournes
    Really great Sanderson story. The Magic system is one of the coolest I’ve seen and the world building is equally amazing. Vivenna, Siri, Vasher, and Lightsong keep you turning the pages and the revelations at the end of the book keep you hooked into the world.
  • Just augh 🤢

    1
    By sonicredbex
    This author has so many fans I thought why not try this book and see what the hype is about. Talk about disappointment! The writing is subpar at best, the dialog is just wretched, the plot is basic to say the least with one-dimensional MMCs and supporting MMCs, and dithering FMCs that do not more than reinforce cis- het- patriarchy founded on religious trope. Such a colossal waste of time. Do yourself a favor and stay away.
  • Not his best work

    3
    By CBP309
    I was relatively happy with most of the book, but there were many more questions that were left unanswered and it was a very disappointing ending.
  • Very very Good!!

    5
    By Iam_Micco
    Incredibly good story. Interesting magic system. Love it!!!
  • Love it!

    5
    By Oodd B Narr
    Must read book!
  • Epic Novel

    5
    By KrisM43
    I wish that Sanderson had done a series revolved around these characters. He did integrate them into other series on a very small scale though.
  • not my fav, but still great!

    4
    By Jordan Tomasello
    I’m a long-time fan of Sanderson’s work, and I enjoyed this book like all of the rest. It was a bit less complex than Mistborn and Stormlight, which is what I personally love. So in the depth category, it wasn’t my favorite, but it is still an enticing story with great characters and an AMAZING (per usual) magic system.
  • I love Sanderson!

    5
    By Levikitchen
    Sanderson is truly second to none in worldbuilding and inventing new, interesting magic systems! This book did drag a bit in the mid section, but picked up to a satisfying crescendo by the end. I have to admit I was giggling like a little girl full of glee when Sanderson made an incredible, unexpected connection between this book and "The Way of Kings". If you don't pay close attention you might overlook it but it honestly had me on cloud nine for almost a week. I hope Sanderson reveals what planet these stories are taking place on some day, so that we can just go live there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as his "The Way of Kings". If you like this book, go read that one next!
  • Too formulaic

    3
    By hd_chicken
    Sanderson never fails to wow with his creative magic systems. However, this story was far too formulaic; I never got lost in the tale as the structure of the story was always visible.